Wakeup Receiver Circuit, Electronic System and Method to Wake up a Device

ABSTRACT

A device is operated in a low power mode of operation. The device receives a differential signal that includes a first polarity signal and a second polarity signal. A slope of a first direction is detected in the differential signal and a slope of a second direction is detected in the differential signal. A wakeup of the device is caused in response to the detection of the first slope of the differential signal and the second slope of the differential signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a wakeup receiver circuit, and to a method to wakeup a device. Further, the invention generally relates to an electrical or electronic system, and more specifically, to a system comprising a bus.

BACKGROUND

In electrical or electronic systems, various individual system modules, for instance various electronic/electric assemblies, various electronic/electric components, for instance various semiconductor components such as integrated circuits, etc., various subcomponents, provided in one and the same component or integrated circuit etc., communicate via a transfer medium such as a bus system.

A bus system may comprise one or more transfer lines. Bus systems can be used jointly by several, in particular by two or more than two devices of a respective system.

Many conventional bus systems comprise several partial systems, for example, a data bus, consisting of one or more data lines, and/or an address bus, consisting of one or more address lines, and/or a control bus, consisting of one or more control lines, etc.

In comparison to this, other bus systems are of a much simpler construction. For example, a so-called IBCB bus (IBCB=Inter Block Communication Bus) in general merely comprises two transmission lines to connect two respective devices. Further examples for relatively simple bus systems are CAN busses (CAN=Controller Area Network), which generally only comprise two or three lines (e.g., CAN_HIGH, CAN_LOW, and—optionally—CAN_GND (ground)), LIN busses (LIN=Local Interconnect Network), which generally comprise only one single transmission line, etc.

In many conventional systems, for instance, in systems with an IBCB bus, various devices may be connected in a chain-like structure. For instance, a first component may be connected via two IBCB transmission lines to a second component, the second component may be connected via two IBCB transmission lines to a third component, the third component may be connected via two IBCB transmission lines to a fourth component, etc. Hence, e.g., a logical “1” (or correspondingly, a logical “0”) may first be transmitted from the first component to the second component in the above chain of components, then from the second component to the third component, then from the third component to the fourth component, etc.

In addition, a central microprocessor or microcontroller may be provided, which e.g., may be connected with the first (or last) component in the above chain of components, e.g., via SPI (SPI=Serial Peripheral Interface), or any other suitable connection.

The above system, i.e., the above devices connected via the above IBCB bus, and/or the above central microprocessor or microcontroller may, e.g., be used to control a battery, and/or the cells of a battery, for instance, the battery of a respective vehicle such as a car.

To avoid that the above devices themselves consume too much energy from the battery, especially during periods of time when they are not needed, they might be brought into a power saving mode/power down mode. To bring the devices back from the power saving mode/power down mode to a normal operating mode (“wakeup”), the above devices may be provided with so-called wakeup receivers.

Wakeup receivers may, e.g., be adapted to detect by use of respective comparators detecting absolute signal levels on the IBCB bus that a specific dedicated wakeup signal sequence was sent, and may, in return, trigger that a respective device is brought back from the power saving mode/power down mode to a normal operating mode (“wakeup”).

However, the wakeup receivers themselves may consume a considerable amount of energy from the battery, even when the system is in the above power saving mode/power down mode.

For these or other reasons there is a need for an improved system, an improved wakeup receiver circuit, and an improved method to wakeup a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect, a method is provided. A device is operated in a low power mode of operation. The device receives a differential signal comprising a first polarity signal and a second polarity signal. A slope of a first direction is detected in the differential signal. A slope of a second direction which is different than the first direction is detected in the differential signal. A wakeup of the device is caused in response to the detection of the first slope of the differential signal and the second slope of the differential signal.

According to a further aspect, a wakeup receiver is provided, comprising a circuit adapted to detect a deliberate activity on a bus to wakeup a device (e.g., a module, a component, an element, or an integrated circuit) connected to the bus.

Advantageously, the circuit is capacitively coupled to the bus.

Advantageously, the wakeup receiver comprises at least one capacitor for coupling the circuit to the bus.

Advantageously, the circuit is adapted to be responsive to level shifts of a signal on the bus, substantially independent from a DC level of the signal.

Advantageously, the wakeup receiver comprises a latch.

Advantageously, the at least one capacitor is coupled between the latch and the bus.

Advantageously, the wakeup receiver comprises at least one amplifying element.

Advantageously, the amplifying element is coupled between the latch and the at least one capacitor.

Advantageously, the latch comprises a pair of cross-coupled transistors.

Advantageously, the wakeup receiver comprises a monoflop or univibrator.

Advantageously, the monoflop or univibrator is coupled to an output of the latch.

Advantageously, the deliberate activity on the bus comprises a wakeup sequence signal.

Advantageously, the wakeup sequence signal comprises a signal causing a maximum amount of deliberate activity on the bus.

Advantageously, the wakeup sequence signal comprises a directly alternating series of logical 1s and logical 0s.

Advantageously, the directly alternating series of logical 1s and logical 0s comprises at least five logical 1s and logical 0s.

Advantageously, the directly alternating series of logical 1s and logical 0s comprises at least ten or twenty logical 1s and logical 0s.

Advantageously, the wakeup receiver is adapted to substantially not consume any current during operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intended advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic structure of an exemplifying electronic/electric system comprising a bus in which a wakeup receiver circuit according to an embodiment of the invention may be employed; and

FIG. 2 schematically depicts an example of a wakeup receiver circuit according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplifying electronic/electric system 1 comprising a bus in which a wakeup receiver circuit according to an embodiment of the invention may be employed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 comprises a plurality of devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e which are connected in a chain-like structure over various busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d. The devices can be any electronic device that could be connected to a bus such as modules, components, elements and integrated circuits.

The devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may, e.g., be or comprise semiconductor components such as integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, for instance, respective ASICS (ASIC=application specific integrated circuit), Microprocessors, Microcontrollers, etc., or any other kind of integrated circuit or component comprising an integrated circuit. In particular embodiments, the components may be or comprise respective BALI ASICS (BALI=Battery Management for Lithium Ion Cells) 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, etc.

Alternatively, the system 1 may be, e.g., a single integrated circuit chip, comprising various subcomponents 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, provided in one and the same single integrated circuit chip 1, the various sub-components or elements 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e of the single integrated circuit chip 1 being connected in a chain-like structure over various chip-internal busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d.

Preferably, the system 1 comprises a relatively high number of devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, e.g., more than two, in particular, more than five or ten or twenty devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, e.g., more than five or ten or twenty separate integrated circuits (or subcomponents of a single integrated circuit), connected in the above chain-like structure over the above busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d.

Each of the busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, e.g., may comprise, as shown in FIG. 1, two respective transmission lines 12 a, 12 b, over which data may, e.g., be transmitted in differential form. Alternatively, each bus may, e.g., only comprise one single transmission line, or more than two, e.g., three or more than three transmission lines.

For example, the busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d may be respective IBCB busses (IBCB=Inter Block Communication Bus), or any other kind of busses (e.g., respective CAN busses (CAN=Controller Area Network), LIN busses (LIN=Local Interconnect Network), or similar busses, etc.).

The above system 1, e.g., may be used in a vehicle, e.g., a car, a plane, a helicopter, a motorcycle, etc., in particular, in a car comprising an electric engine (and/or a combustion engine).

For instance, the system 1 may be used to control a battery, e.g., a battery provided in an electric vehicle, or any other battery provided, e.g., in any of the above-mentioned vehicles.

In the battery, several cells, e.g., respective Lithium Ion Cells, or any other kind of cells may be connected in series. The series connection of the cells may result in the battery providing a total voltage of more than ten, preferably more than hundred, two hundred or five hundred volts.

Each of the above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, le of the system 1, e.g., each of the above integrated circuits/ASICS 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, le may be used to monitor and/or control different ones of the above cells, and/or different blocks of cells/battery modules, each block of cells/battery module comprising several, different ones of the cells.

For instance, a first integrated circuit/ASIC 1 a of the above integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, le may be used to monitor and/or control a first cell, and/or a first battery module, a second integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b of the above integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may be used to monitor and/or control a second cell, and/or a second battery module, a third integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c of the above integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may be used to monitor and/or control a third cell, and/or a third battery module, a fourth integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d of the above integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may be used to monitor and/or control a fourth cell, and/or a fourth battery module, etc.

Thereby, e.g., the electric charge loaded in the respective cells/block of cells associated with a respective integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may be detected by a respective integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e. Alternatively or in addition thereto, with the help of a respective integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, an appropriate reaction to a detected electric charge loaded in respective cells/blocks of cells may be controlled. For instance, by use of a respective integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, a single associated cell, and/or an associated block of cells may be discharged (passive balancing). Further, by use of a respective integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, charge may be transferred between single cells, and/or respective blocks of cells (active balancing).

The above busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, e.g., may be used to transmit data referring to the detected electric charge loaded in respective cells/block of cells associated with a respective one of the integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, or any other kind of data, from the respective integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e to a central microprocessor or microcontroller 100, e.g., a respective Battery Management Supervisor Controller, and/or to other ones of the above integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, and/or vice versa (e.g., from the central microprocessor or microcontroller/Battery Management Supervisor Controller 100 to the above integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e). The above central microprocessor or microcontroller 100/Battery Management Supervisor Controller, e.g., may be connected with the first integrated circuit 1 a in the above chain of integrated circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, e.g., a respective “Master Node” circuit 1 a. The connection between the central microprocessor or microcontroller 100 and the “Master Node” circuit 1 a, e.g., may be achieved via SPI (SPI=Serial Peripheral Interface), or any other suitable connection.

The above central microprocessor or microcontroller 100/Battery Management Supervisor Controller, in turn, may be connected to the main control device of the vehicle, e.g., via a respective CAN bus (CAN=Controller Area Network), or any other suitable connection.

Each of the above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e of the system 1, e.g., each of the above integrated circuits/ASICS 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may comprise a first interface, e.g., a Lowside Interface (LS Interface) 11 a, a second interface, e.g., a Highside Interface (HS Interface) 11 b, and, optionally, a Level shifter 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d connected between the LS Interface 11 a, and the HS Interface 11 b. Each Level shifter 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d may be connected with the respective additional logic circuits of a respective integrated circuit/ASIC 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e.

Hence, a respective data signal may, e.g., be transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 a, i.e., the “Master Node” circuit 1 a (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) 11 b thereof) via the bus 2 a to the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b (in particular, the respective Lowside Interface (LS Interface) thereof). By the Level Shifter 13 b of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b the received data signal is shifted from the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 a to the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 b. Then, the voltage shifted received data signal may, e.g., be transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) thereof) via the bus 2 b to the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c (in particular, the respective Lowside Interface (LS Interface) thereof).

Thereafter, by the Level Shifter 13 c of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c the received data signal is shifted from the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 b to the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 c. Then, the voltage shifted received data signal may, e.g., be transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) thereof) via the bus 2 c to the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d (in particular, the respective Lowside Interface (LS Interface) thereof). By the Level Shifter 13 d of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d the received data signal is shifted from the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 c to the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 d, and is then transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) thereof) via the bus 2 d to the next ASIC in the chain, etc., until the data signal is received by the last ASIC 1 e in the chain (“Final Node” circuit 1 e).

Each integrated circuit/ASIC 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, in particular, each of the above Level shifters may, e.g., shift the level of the data signals by a relatively high voltage amount, e.g., between 1V and 200V, in particular, between 5V and 100V, or 10V and 80V, e.g., up to 60V.

The busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d hence may be seen as commonly forming a bus system, where the separate buses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d are galvanically decoupled from one another.

In addition, in some embodiments, the galvanic connection between respective HS and LS Interfaces of two different ones of the above integrated circuits/ASICs provided by a respective one of the above busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d (e.g., the galvanic connection between the HS Interface 11 b of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 a and the LS Interface of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b provided by the bus 2 a, etc.) may be interrupted by a respective series connection of capacitors.

The above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e of the system 1 may, e.g., be powered by the above battery/battery cells. For instance, each of the devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e of the system 1 may be powered by the respective associated cells/blocks of cells/battery modules, i.e., the cells/blocks of cells/battery modules a respective device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e is adapted to monitor and/or control.

To avoid that the above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e themselves consume too much energy from the battery, especially during periods of time when they are not needed, they might be brought from a normal operating mode into a power saving mode/power down mode.

This may, e.g., be triggered by the central microprocessor or microcontroller 100/Battery Management Supervisor Controller or, e.g., by the above first device 1 a in the above chain (e.g., the “Master Node” circuit 1 a) (or, e.g., by any other of the above devices 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e), or, e.g., by the above main control device of the vehicle, or any other suitable device.

For example, to bring the devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, le from a normal operating mode into a power saving mode/power down mode, a respective power down control signal may be sent out from the first device 1 a in the above chain (i.e., the “Master Node” circuit 1 a) to the other devices 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e in the chain. The power down control signal, e.g., may be a data signal comprising a specific, predetermined sequence of bits, for instance, a specific, predetermined combination of logical “1”s and logical “0”s transmitted consecutively from the above “Master Node” circuit 1 a over the above busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d from one circuit to the other to the above last circuit 1 e in the above chain, i.e., the above “Final Node” circuit 1 e.

Hence, the power down control signal may, e.g., first be transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 a, i.e., the “Master Node” circuit 1 a (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) 11 b thereof) via the bus 2 a to the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b (in particular, the respective Lowside Interface (LS Interface) thereof). By the Level Shifter 13 b of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b the received power down control signal is shifted from the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 a to the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 b. Then, the voltage shifted received power down control signal may, e.g., be transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 b (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) thereof) via the bus 2 b to the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c (in particular, the respective Lowside Interface (LS Interface) thereof).

Thereafter, by the Level Shifter 13 c of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c the received power down control signal is shifted from the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 b to the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 c. Then, the voltage shifted received power down control signal may, e.g., be transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 c (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) thereof) via the bus 2 c to the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d (in particular, the respective Lowside Interface (LS Interface) thereof). By the Level Shifter 13 d of the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d the received power down control signal is shifted from the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 c to the voltage domain of the ASIC 1 d, and is then transmitted from the integrated circuit/ASIC 1 d (in particular, the respective Highside Interface (HS Interface) thereof) via the bus 2 d to the next ASIC in the chain, etc., until the power down control signal is received by the last ASIC 1 e in the chain (“Final Node” circuit le).

In response to receiving the power down control signal, the devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e are brought from the normal operating mode into the power saving mode/power down mode.

In the power saving mode/power down mode, the above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e consume much less energy from the battery, than in the normal operating mode. In particular, as will be described below, in the power down mode, the above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may consume no, or almost no, energy.

For this purpose, in the power down mode, one or several voltage supplying means, provided on a respective device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, which in the normal operating mode, derived from a voltage supplied by the battery, supply one or several relatively high, regulated voltages Vsupply for the device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, may be deactivated. Hence, in the power down mode, other than in the normal operating mode, these one or several relatively high, regulated voltages Vsupply are not available on the device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e. Hence, one or several parts of a respective device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e fed by these relatively high, regulated voltages Vsupply, e.g., a respective Level Shifter, etc., are then completely shut down.

However, even in the power saving mode/power down mode, as will be described below, a relatively low voltage Vsleep may still be available on a respective device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e. The relatively low voltage Vsleep, e.g., may be an unregulated voltage and, e.g., may also be derived from the voltage supplied by the battery, or from any other suitable voltage. As the relatively low voltage Vsleep, may be an unregulated voltage, it may, other than the above one or several relatively high voltages Vsupply, be provided without the use of a respective voltage regulator.

After the above power saving mode/power down mode, the above devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e may be brought back to the normal operating mode.

This may, e.g., be triggered by the central microprocessor or microcontroller 100/Battery Management Supervisor Controller or, e.g., by the above first device 1 a in the above chain (e.g., the “Master Node” circuit 1 a) (or, e.g., by any other of the above devices 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e), or, e.g., by the above main control device of the vehicle, or any other suitable device.

For example, to bring the devices 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e back from the power saving mode/power down mode to the normal operating mode, a respective wakeup sequence may be sent out from the first device 1 a in the above chain (i.e., the “Master Node” circuit 1 a) to the other devices 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e in the chain.

The wakeup sequence, e.g., may, at least in theory, comprise any arbitrarily chosen sequence of bits. In other words, other than other control signals, the wakeup sequence need not necessarily comprise a specific, predetermined sequence of bits. In contrast, as will become clear from what is described below, any kind of deliberate activity on the bus 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d may be detected as the presence of a wakeup sequence, whilst no activity (or no deliberate activity) on the bus 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d may be detected as non-presence of a wakeup sequence.

For instance, as one example of a wakeup sequence, a series of logical “1”s and logical “0”s may be transmitted consecutively, in alternating fashion, from the above “Master Node” circuit 1 a over the above busses 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d to the other circuits, where the alternation occurs as fast/as often as maximally allowed by the specification of the bus. In other words, the wakeup sequence may, e.g., be of the form “101010101010 . . . ” or “010101010101 . . . ” Hence, a wakeup sequence showing a maximum amount of activity on the bus 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d may be chosen as a wakeup sequence, to facilitate the distinction between “activity on the bus” (which, as said, may be detected as the presence of a wakeup sequence), and “no activity/no deliberate activity on the bus” (which, as said, may be detected as non-presence of a wakeup sequence).

For instance, as is shown in FIG. 2, as a wakeup sequence, a toggling differential signal 5 may be used, comprising a positive polarity signal 5 a transmitted, e.g., via the above transmission line 12 a, and a negative polarity signal 5 b transmitted, e.g., via the above transmission line 12 b.

As is further shown in FIG. 2, to detect the presence of a wakeup sequence on the bus 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, each device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e of the above system 1 may be provided or associated with a respective wakeup receiver circuit 200. The wakeup receiver circuit 200 may, e.g., be an integral part of the respective device 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e (or, alternatively, may be provided separate therefrom).

For instance, as is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 1, the wakeup receiver circuit 200 of the device 1 b may be connected to the bus 2 a/the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b of the bus 2 a. Similarly, the wakeup receiver circuit of the device 1 c may be connected to the bus 2 b, the wakeup receiver circuit of the device 1 d may be connected to the bus 2 c, etc.

As is shown in FIG. 2, each wakeup receiver circuit 200 may comprise a (retriggerable) monoflop 101/a (retriggerable) univibrator 101 coupled to a latch 102, which may be capacitively coupled to the above bus 2 a/the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b.

For the above capacitive coupling of the latch 102 to the bus 2 a/the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b, respective capacitive elements may be used, e.g., respective capacitors 103 a, 103 b.

Further, between the capacitors 103 a, 103 b and the latch 102, respective amplifying elements 104 a, 104 b may be coupled, e.g., so-called bus boosters.

As is further shown in FIG. 2, the latch 102 may, e.g., be coupled to the above voltage Vsleep, and to a ground voltage (GND).

Further, the latch 102 may comprise two pairs of transistors 105 a, 105 b, 105 c, 105 d, e.g., two pairs of cross-coupled field effect transistors 105 a, 105 b, 105 c, 105 d, in particular, two pairs of MOSFET transistors 105 a, 105 b, 105 c, 105 d.

For instance, as is shown in FIG. 2, the gate of a first transistor 105 a may be coupled to the source or drain of a second and third transistor 105 b, 105 c. Further, the gate of a fourth transistor 105 d may also be coupled to the source or drain of the second and third transistor 105 b, 105 c, the gate of the second transistor 105 b may be coupled to the source or drain of the first and fourth transistor 105 a, 105 d, and the gate of the third transistor 105 c may also be coupled to the source or drain of the first and fourth transistor 105 a, 105 d.

Still further, an output of the amplifying element 104 a may be coupled to the gate of the second transistor 105 b, the gate of the third transistor 105 c, and the source or drain of the first and fourth transistor 105 a, 105 d. In addition, an output of the amplifying element 104 b may be coupled to the gate of the first transistor 105 a, the gate of the fourth transistor 105 d, and the source or drain of the second and third transistor 105 b, 105 c.

Whenever there is activity/deliberate activity on the bus 2 a, i.e., whenever a differential level shift occurs on the bus 2 a/the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b, e.g., when there is a slope 6 a of a first direction in the differential signal 5 (as, e.g., both the first and second polarity signals 5 a, 5 b change their states), the latch 102 flips from a first state (during which, e.g., the first and second transistor 105 a, 105 b are conducting, and the third and fourth transistor 105 c, 105 d are non-conducting) to a second, opposite state (during which, e.g., the first and second transistor 105 a, 105 b are non-conducting, and the third and fourth transistor 105 c, 105 d are conducting).

When a further activity/deliberate activity, i.e., a further differential level shift occurs on the bus 2 a, e.g., when there is a slope 6 b of a second, different, opposite direction in the differential signal 5 (as, e.g., both the first and second polarity signals 5 a, 5 b again change their states), the latch 102 flips back from the above second state (during which, e.g., the first and second transistor 105 a, 105 b are non-conducting, and the third and fourth transistor 105 c, 105 d are conducting) to the above first, opposite state (during which, e.g., the first and second transistor 105 a, 105 b are conducting, and the third and fourth transistor 105 c, 105 d are non-conducting).

Thereafter, only when a still further activity/deliberate activity, i.e., a still further differential level shift occurs on the bus 2 a, e.g., when there is a further slope of the first direction in the differential signal 5, the latch 102 again flips from the above first state (during which, e.g., the first and second transistor 105 a, 105 b are conducting, and the third and fourth transistor 105 c, 105 d are non-conducting) to the above second, opposite state (during which, e.g., the first and second transistor 105 a, 105 b are non-conducting, and the third and fourth transistor 105 c, 105 d are conducting), etc.

In other words, as long as there is no activity/deliberate activity on the bus 2 a, i.e., as long as no differential level shift occurs on the bus 2 a/the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b, the latch 102 (in particular, its transistors 105 a, 105 b, 105 c, 105 d) remains in a respective state, and substantially does not consume any power/current (apart from leakage currents).

Hence, at an output 102 a of the latch 102, and therefore, on a line 107 connecting the output 102 a of the latch 102 with an input of the above monoflop 101, a wakeclock signal 108 is generated, which essentially corresponds to a single-ended map of the wakeup sequence (e.g., the differential signal “010101010101 . . . ”) received on the transmission lines 12 a, 12 b of the bus 2 a.

As a consequence, the (re-triggerable) monoflop 101/(re-triggerable) univibrator 101 is kept being triggered, i.e., is first triggered by a first pulse 108 a of the consecutive pulses 108 a, 108 b, 108 c of the wakeclock signal 108, and is then triggered again and again by each of the following pulses 108 b, 108 c, . . . of the wakeclock signal 108.

Therefore, a wake signal 109 at an output 101 a of the (re-triggerable) monoflop 101/(retriggerable) univibrator 101 changes from a “not set” to a “set” state, and remains in said “set” state as long as the wakeup sequence is present on the bus 2 a/the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b.

When it is, e.g., detected that the above wake signal 109 is “set,” or is in the “set” state for at least a predetermined period of time, it may be detected that the module/component/element/integrated circuit 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, le associated with the wakeup receiver circuit 200 is to be “woken up” (wakeup detection), i.e., is to be brought from the above power saving mode/power down mode to the normal operating mode.

Due to the differential implementation of the wakeup receiver circuit 200, it may be achieved that only differential signals at the transmission lines 12 a, 12 b may lead to a wakeup detection, so that erroneous wakeup detections caused, e.g., by common mode disruptions on the transmission lines 12 a, 12 b, etc. may be prevented. Further, as the wakeup receiver circuit 200 is capacitively coupled to the transmission lines 12 a, 12 b, it is substantially independent from the respective DC levels present on the bus 2 a (instead, substantially, it only reacts to respective level shifts). Further, as becomes clear from the explanations above, the wakeup receiver circuit 200 substantially does not consume any current (apart from leakage currents), and may not need any bias currents or external reference voltages.

As soon as the respective module/component/element/integrated circuit (e.g., the module/component/element/integrated circuit 1 b), in response to a wakeup detection, has been brought from the power saving mode/power down mode to the normal operating mode, it may forward the wakeup sequence/wakeup sequence signal (still) received from the preceding module/component/element/integrated circuit in the chain (e.g., from the module/component/element/integrated circuit 1 a via the bus 2 a at the above transmission lines 12 a, 12 b) to the next module/component/element/integrated circuit in the chain (e.g., via the bus 2 b to the module/component/element/integrated circuit 1 c).

Thereby, the wakeup sequence/wakeup sequence signal on the bus 2 a (still received on, e.g., the respective LS Interface of the integrated circuit 1 b) may be shifted by the respective Level Shifter, e.g., the Level Shifter 13 b from the voltage domain of the integrated circuit 1 a to the voltage domain of the integrated circuit 1 b. Then, the voltage shifted received wakeup sequence/wakeup sequence signal may, e.g., be transmitted from the integrated circuit 1 b (in particular, the respective HS Interface thereof) via the bus 2 b to the integrated circuit 1 c (in particular, the respective LS Interface thereof). The integrated circuit 1 c, in response, may also be brought back from the above power saving mode/power down mode to the normal operating mode, and then may forward the received, further level shifted, wakeup sequence/wakeup sequence signal to the next integrated circuit in the chain, e.g., the integrated circuit 1 d, etc. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: operating a device in a low power mode of operation; receiving, by the device, a differential signal comprising a first polarity signal and a second polarity signal; detecting a slope of a first direction in the differential signal; detecting a slope of a second direction different than the first direction in the differential signal; and causing a wakeup of the device in response to the detection of the first slope of the differential signal and the deletion of the second slope of the differential signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the slope of the first direction in the differential signal comprises comparing the slope of the first direction to a threshold.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the wakeup in response to the detection of the slope of the first direction and the slope of the second direction comprises comparing at least one of the slope of the first direction and the slope of the second direction to a threshold.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the wakeup of the device comprises detecting the slope of the first direction and the slope of the second direction within a predetermined period of time.
 5. The method of claim 4, comprising: detecting at least two slopes of the first direction in the differential signal; and detecting at least two slopes of the second direction in the differential signal within the predetermined period of time.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the device substantially does not consume any power.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the device consumes power when the slope in the differential signal passes the threshold.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the device does not consume power when the slope in the differential signal does not pass the threshold.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the device consumes power when the slope in the differential signal exceeds the at least one threshold.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the device does not consume power when the slope in the differential signal does not exceed the at least one threshold.
 11. The method of claim 4, comprising detecting slopes of different direction in the differential signal in the predetermined period of time at least till the wakeup of the device.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a single ended wakeup detection signal in response to the detection.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a state of a flip-flop in response to the slopes of different direction.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the device and a plurality of additional devices are connected in a chain-like structure, the method further comprising forwarding, by the device, the differential signal to a next device of the plurality of additional devices in the chain.
 15. The method of claim 14, comprising forwarding the differential signal at least until a wakeup of a last device in the chain is caused.
 16. A wakeup receiver circuit configured to detect a slope of a first direction and a slope of a second direction different than the first direction in a differential signal to cause a wakeup of a device in response to the detection.
 17. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the circuit is configured to compare the slope of the first direction to at least one threshold.
 18. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the circuit is configured to cause the wakeup of the device when the slope of the first direction and the slope of the second direction are detected within a predetermined period of time.
 19. The circuit of claim 18, wherein the circuit is configured to cause the wakeup of the device when at least two slopes of the first direction and at least two slopes of the second direction different than the first direction are detected within the predetermined period of time.
 20. The circuit of claim 17, wherein the circuit is configured to substantially not consume any power.
 21. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to consume power when the slope in the differential signal passes the at least one threshold.
 22. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to not consume power when the slope in the differential signal does not pass the at least one threshold.
 23. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to consume power when the slope in the differential signal exceeds the at least one threshold.
 24. The circuit of claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to not consume power when the slope in the differential signal does not exceed the at least one threshold.
 25. The circuit of claim 16, further comprising a flip-flop adapted to change a state in response to the slopes of different direction.
 26. The circuit of claim 25, further comprising a pair of capacitive elements coupled between respective terminals of the circuit and the flip-flop.
 27. A system, comprising: a plurality of devices connected in a chain-like structure; wherein a device of the plurality of devices comprises a circuit configured to detect a slope of a first direction in a differential signal to cause a wakeup of the device in response to the detection. 